Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2017
Van Ryan Kristopher R. Galarpe*1, Kristal Jane L. Heyasa2, Brawner Brian L. Heyasa3
Philippines
Key words: San Fernando, Bukidnon, Tigua river, Salug river, River tributaries, Heavy metals
Abstract
Bukidnon, Philippines being identified as an agricultural province needs to ensure water sustainability vital to
support its agroeconomy. This study considered Tigua River with three river tributaries and Salug River with
single station in San Fernando, Bukidnon. Analysis employed single sampling technique to initially assess river
tributaries. Studied water quality parameters were pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), oxidizing redox
potential (ORP), turbidity, salinity, conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS) using portable pre-calibrated
meters. Nitrates were also determined using Bruccine colorimetric method. Analyzed heavy metals in total
form were copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and chromium (Cr) using Flame-Atomic absorption
spectrophometry (AAS). Overall, studied river tributaries passed national regulation with risk quotient (RQ)
showing no potential pollution. Heavy metals were below detection limit indicating less traceable quantities in
river tributaries. Salinity, conductivity, and TDS showed positive correlation. The study was preliminary and
further monitoring may be needed.
*Corresponding Author: Van Ryan Kristopher R. Galarpe vanryangalarpe@gmail.com
a b
Fig. 1. a) Salug river station (S1) and b) the Tigua river tributary station (T1).
Physicochemical analyses
The turbidity meter LaMotte 2020 was used to
analyze the turbidity of the water samples. The pH,
temperature, conductivity, sanility, TDS, and ORP
were analyzed using Oyster meter. The DO of the
water samples were analyzed using Acorn Series DO
Meter OAKION Manufacturing (code 01X555902).
The analyses of Pb, Cd, Cu, Cr, and nitrates were
conducted in the FAST Laboratories. The Pb in total
form was analyzed using 3030 E. Nitric acid
digestion/3111 B. Direct air acetylene Flame AAS
method. The Cd, Cu, and Cr in total form were
analyzed using 3030 F. Nitric acid-hydrochloric acid
digestion/3111 B. Direct air-acetylene Flame AAS
method, respectively. Nitrates was analyzed using
973.50 Bruccine colorimetric method. All samples
Fig. 2. Map of the study site in San Fernando, were analyzed in triplicates. Methods of analyses
Bukidnon. Tigua river consisted of three river were adopted from AOAC International (2012) and
tributaries connecting towards Pulangi River. Salug APHA-AWWA and WEF (2012).
river station outflow towards Davao river.
Data Analyses
One Way-ANOVA was employed to compare the
Sampling technique
physicochemical parameters in all study sites at 0.05
One grab sampling on January 1, 2017 was employed
level of significance. The Pearson correlation was
in this study. All containers used were polyethylene
similarly used to determine association among
bottles (PET) prewashed with distilled water three
parameters studied. Further, all results were
times. Upon sampling the container itself were
expressed in terms of mean. To derive an
washed three times with the river water prior to
environmental risk estimate all results were subjected
sample collection and processing in the laboratory. to Risk Quotient (RQ) analysis. The RQ was
Surface river waters were taken from four sampling calculated as the ratio between the determined
stations approximately 3-5 m from the above ground. concentration and the available standard (GEF/
Collected samples were subjected to lower UNDP/IMO, 2004). The calculated RQ of >1 can
temperature, preventing chemical absorption and ion gauge the physiochemical parameter to likely pose
interference prior to heavy metal analyses (Galarpe environmental risk. The DAO 35 standard was used
and Parilla, 2014). for estimating RQ in river water samples (Table 2).
Results and discussion quality studies in the Philippines (Galarpe and Parilla,
Physicochemical analyses 2012; Galarpe and Parilla, 2014; Achas et al., 2016).
The overall physicochemical parameters were Nonetheless, these parameters were within the normal
relatively comparable. Both temperature (27-28 deg range/standard set.
C) and pH ( 6-7) were of the same range.Considerably
the DO concentrations were low in stations T2 and Overall trend showed higher turbidity levels among
T3, consequently below the DENR Class AA river tributaries adjacent to central district of San
standard.Both river tributatries were located adjacent Fernando, specifically T2 and T3. This can be
to the populated area in San Fernando, Bukidnon. attributed from dust deposition and anthropogenic
Anthropogenic water pollutants in a form of organic runoffs from adjacent communities. Study in the past
matter discharges from adjacent community may similarly showed Tigua sub-watershed with the
have contributed to lower DO levels (Chapman, highest soil accumulation at 181.25 ton/ha/yr (Marin
1996). The higher conductivity, salinity, and TDS and Jamis, 2016).On the other hand, studied metals
concentrations were recorded in T2 and T3 as (Pb, Cd, Cu, and Cr) were below the detection limit
compared to S1 and T1. Conductivity may indicate whereas nitrates were within the range 0.75-1.66
potential levels of ions in water (Chapman, 1996) and ppm. The nitrates level were higher in S1, site
TDS can be associated to carbonates in water samples distinctively sorrounded by agriculutral land (e.g. rice
(Pip, 2000). Both inorganic and organic chemical fields and banana). Consequently, nitrogen leaching
attributes affecting TDS, salinity, and conductivity from ploughed land area to river catchment may
can be induced by anthropogenic discharges from increase nitrate concentration (Neill, 1989; Schilling
populated area. Strong associaion of TDS, conductivity, et al., 2000; Boithias et al. 2014). Summary of results
and salinity were similarly determined by other water is shown in Table 3.
Present findings were in agreement with the studies Considerably, temperature and turbidity showed
of Köse et al. (2014) and Tokatli et al. (2014) on positive correlation (r = 0.98). River tributary with
stream waters showing positive correlation higher temperature had higher turbidity, indicating
between TDS, conductivity, and salinity. anthropogenic influence to water quality.
Comparison to Philippine rivers These rivers were adjacent to agricultural lands and
Compared parameters were pH, TDS, DO, and located primarily in the same region exhibiting
nitrates which were common analyses in studied comparable pH. The TDS were similarly comparable
rivers in the Philippines. Distinctively, the pH of S1, to Labo and Clarin Rivers (Labajo-Villantes, 2014)
T1, T2, and T3 were relatively comparable to Labo and Mama River (Martinez et al., 2011) which were
and Clarin Rivers (Labajo-Villantes, 2014). all located in agricultural areas.
The DO in T1 and S1 were comparable to Mananga (Martinez et al., 2011) indicating less anthropogenic
River (Flores and Zafaralla, 2012), Labo and Clarin impacts. The nitrate levels were comparable to other
Rivers (Labajo-Villantes, 2014) and Mama River cited river studies (Table 7).
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